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LA Council committee eyes regulating food trucks

by KPCC Wire Services

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LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles City Council committee today began looking into ways to regulate food trucks.

The Transportation Committee heard testimony from dozens of food truck operators, restaurateurs and law enforcement personnel, but decided to gather additional information before taking action.

Nicole Shahenian, with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, complained that food trucks "siphon'' business from brick-and-mortar establishments.

"These trucks take cash only; are hard to inspect for the health department because they are mobile; they don't contribute to the city's tax base; they don't pay rent; they don't pay business improvement district assessments; they use our ... trash cans, our parking spots and more,'' she
said.

"Because they do not have the same overhead costs, the mobile trucks are undercutting the city's existing restaurants,'' Shahenian added. "They literally roll in, take the business and our tax dollars and leave.''

Erin Glenn, chief executive officer of the Asociacion de Loncheros, an organization of food truck operators, conceded there was a need for regulations and offered to work with the committee to draft them.

"We actually would like there to be some kind of permit process, a renting of space, if you will — maybe not an actual physical space but being able to pay a fee annually to operate,'' Glenn said.

"This fee would be like the issuing of medallions for the taxicabs, for instance,'' she said. "When trucks are not complying, some kind of fine would be appropriated.''